3 months ago
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The sun appeared to be setting for Andy Murray on day two of the Australian Open as he made a tame exit from the first Grand Slam of the season.
The five-times finalist at Melbourne Park went down 6-4 6-2 6-2 in two hours and 24 minutes against the number 30 seed from Argentina, Tomas Martin Etecheverry, in contrasting fashion to the blazing defiance of twelve months ago. He left the court with a long, lingering wave to the crowd.
This time a year ago Murray fought back to register dramatic wins against Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis, but this time he could not muster a response to the extremely solid but hardly devastating game of the Argentinian.
Etcheverry was good enough to take advantage of a display from his opponent which featured a particularly misfiring serve and forehand as blazing afternoon sunshine turned into early evening.
The 36 year-old Scot will now drop out of the world’s top fifty after failing to mount one of his famous comebacks.
Andy Murray is out of the Australian Open after losing to Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in the first round
The Brit gave a subdued wave to the crowd, who supported him throughout, as he exited the court after the game
He had pressured his opponent in the opening set, but failed to pull off one of his signature comebacks on this occasion
Aware that he has been too harsh on himself at times last season, he even looked vaguely subdued in making his first round departure.
Despite the support of a packed crowd in a packed KIA Arena, the highly mobile Etcheverry never really looked in danger once he had eked out a first set in which there had been some promise for the British veteran.
Early breaks were exchanged and Murray missed a break point to lead 4-2. In the seventh game he was then broken just before the first change of the Dunlop balls which fluff up badly after about fifteen minutes’ usage.
Etcheverry never really looked in danger following a first set which saw Murray pile the pressure on his opponent
Murray missed a break point to lead 4-2 in the first set, ending with 21 winners and 37 unforced errors overall
He made life difficult for himself with a first serve percentage initially below 50, and in the second set his forehand was especially wayward. Murray was broken for 3-2 in the third set, and the match concluded with him losing the last four games against a highly efficient opponent.
Murray ended with 21 winners and 37 unforced errors, the last of which was a forehand slapped into the net. He left the court to a sympathetic reception, but it looks uncertain whether he will be back at this event. Optimism going forward felt in short supply.
